Bill Text: NY A06550 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires commuter bicyclists to complete a bicycle safety course; directs the commissioner to initiate and put into effect curriculum for such course.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-05 - referred to transportation [A06550 Detail]
Download: New_York-2021-A06550-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6550 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY March 19, 2021 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring commuter bicyclists to complete a bicycle safety course The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new 2 section 1244 to read as follows: 3 § 1244. Commuter bicyclists. 1. Any person using a bicycle as a prima- 4 ry method of transportation to and from their place of employment shall 5 complete and pass a bicycle safety course. 6 2. (a) The commissioner shall initiate and put into effect such bicy- 7 cle safety course, the curriculum of which shall include, but not be 8 limited to: 9 (i) the laws governing the operation of bicycles; 10 (ii) appropriate traffic behavior and the laws governing such traffic 11 behavior; 12 (iii) identification and avoidance of hazards; 13 (iv) pedestrian and motor vehicle safety; 14 (v) bicycle safety inspection and maintenance; and 15 (vi) injury prevention. 16 (b) In developing such curriculum, the commissioner shall consult with 17 the commissioner of transportation, the superintendent of the state 18 police, the commissioners of transportation and police of the city of 19 New York, medical professionals and bicycle safety advocates. 20 3. The commissioner is authorized, at his or her discretion, to devel- 21 op a method for approving internet-based bicycle safety courses as an 22 appropriate and effective method for the administration and completion 23 of training in the safe operation of bicycles, for the purposes of 24 awarding a bicycle safety certificate pursuant to this section. All EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD09872-01-1A. 6550 2 1 approved internet-based bicycle safety courses shall employ methods to 2 ensure attendance of the student throughout the course. 3 4. The commissioner is authorized and directed to establish a system 4 for tracking and replacing bicycle safety certificates issued by the 5 commissioner. The commissioner is further authorized to require that any 6 other entity approved by the commissioner to provide courses of instruc- 7 tion and award bicycle safety certificates establish a system for track- 8 ing and replacing bicycle safety certificates so as to enable the 9 replacement of lost or stolen certificates to those who have previously 10 been awarded such certificates. 11 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 12 it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the bicycle safety 13 course required by section one of this act may be taken on or after the 14 effective date on this act and that persons subject to the provisions of 15 this act shall have one year to complete such course. Effective imme- 16 diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation 17 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are 18 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.